When auscultating lungs have child sitting if possible. Note the rate, rhythm (regular, irregular, or periodic), quality (effortless, automatic, difficult, or labored), and note the character (noisy, grunting, snoring, heavy).
Vesicular Breath Sounds- Heard over entire surface of the lungs, with the exception of the upper intrascapular area and area beneath the manubrium. Inspiration is louder, longer, and higher pitched than expiration. Sound is a soft, swooshing sound.
Bronchovesicular Breath Sounds- Heard over manubrium and in upper intrascapulur regions where trachea and bronchi bifurcate. Inspiration is louder and higher pitched than in vesicular breathing.
Bronchial Breath Sounds- Heard only over trachea near suprasternal notch. Inspiration is short, and expiration is long.
Absent/Diminished Breath Sounds- Always abnormal and warrant investigation. Fluid, air, or solid masses in the pleural spaces interfere with the conduction of breath sounds.
Adventitious Breath Sounds- Not normally heard over the chest. These occur in addition to normal and abnormal breath sounds. They are classified as: crackles- when air passes through fluid or moisture. (e.g. broncholitis, pneumonia) wheezes- when air passes through narrow passageways, regardless of the cause, such as exudate, inflammation, spasm, or tumor. (This is more typical of asthma.)
Vesicular Breath Sounds- Heard over entire surface of the lungs, with the exception of the upper intrascapular area and area beneath the manubrium. Inspiration is louder, longer, and higher pitched than expiration. Sound is a soft, swooshing sound.
Bronchovesicular Breath Sounds- Heard over manubrium and in upper intrascapulur regions where trachea and bronchi bifurcate. Inspiration is louder and higher pitched than in vesicular breathing.
Bronchial Breath Sounds- Heard only over trachea near suprasternal notch. Inspiration is short, and expiration is long.
Absent/Diminished Breath Sounds- Always abnormal and warrant investigation. Fluid, air, or solid masses in the pleural spaces interfere with the conduction of breath sounds.
Adventitious Breath Sounds- Not normally heard over the chest. These occur in addition to normal and abnormal breath sounds. They are classified as: crackles- when air passes through fluid or moisture. (e.g. broncholitis, pneumonia)
wheezes- when air passes through narrow passageways, regardless of the cause, such as exudate, inflammation, spasm, or tumor. (This is more typical of asthma.)